Community

2014 Comerica Hatch Detroit contest recap

Sister Pie earned $50,000 to start its business as the winners of the fourth annual Comerica Hatch Detroit contest presented by the Detroit Lions.

DETROIT – Hundreds of community supporters attended Hatch Detroit’s Hatch Off Wednesday, August 20 at Ford Field. The fourth annual Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest presented by the Detroit Lions concluded with a sweet ending as local bakery, Sister Pie, took home a $50,000 check and the title of 2014 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest winner.

Hatch Detroit received over 200 applications from aspiring entrepreneurs in the Detroit community and pared the competition down to 10 finalists, allowing the public to vote for the top four finalists. With a combination of public votes and votes from contest judges, Sister Pie defeated Cockadoodle, Gabriel Hall and Third Wave Music instrument store, which all plan to open as well.

The grant money, provided by Comerica Bank, will give the up and coming business the opportunity to provide the Detroit community with pies, cookies and pastries using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from Detroit’s Eastern Market and area farms. Other Hatch Detroit sponsors will provide legal, accounting and IT services to bring the bakery to life.

Lisa Ludwinski, Sister Pie creator, has had a passion for baking ever since she was a young girl and decided to take her hobby of making delicious treats to a larger audience. By winning the Hatch Detroit contest, Ludwinski will finally open the bakery doors in the West Village at the corner of Kercheval and Parker streets, according to Hatch Detroit.

Through the Living for the City initiative, the Detroit Lions presented a new grant program that has been established for current and past Hatch Detroit Contest alums providing ancillary support, technical assistance, funding for business plan development and other small projects to assist in their opening. This further demonstrates the Lions deep rooted commitment to Detroit’s resurgence.

HATCH DETROIT CONTEST MEDIA COVERAGE

We invite you to enjoy the following media highlighting the Hatch Off: